From the minute Kara touches down on Earth, Alex instantly feels the pressures of living up to her new "sisters" standard. Alex's need to walk her own path has her constantly fumbling through life. When Maggie shows up Alex is finally able to find some self worth. What happens when the one person who makes her feel remotely significant disappears.
Let's just dive right in guys, enjoy :)
It's incredible isn't it? Being a big sister? You have someone constantly looking up for you to blaze the trail that they'd happily follow you down. Having a younger sibling that's blind to any of your mistakes, and happy to make them with you, it gives you a sense of pride. They don't look at you only as a big sister; you're a best friend, a hero even. What kind of person would turn such an honor down?
Alex Danvers would.
Alex Danvers would have in a heartbeat had she been given the opportunity but she wasn't. Her opinion hadn't been taken into account. Her parents never once thought "Hey, I wonder how our decisions might affect Alex." No, they never did that.
Kara came into Alex's life like an object shot out of the sky, literally.
Alex had lived a generally normal life up to this point. She was 16 years old, thinking about colleges, random hormone driven fights with her parents and the failed sport here and there but it was normal.
It's normal to think once you've made it 16 years being an only child that this is the way things are going to be forever. Alex would have thought the same thing, had the idea ever crossed her mind. But it never did. Her family was happy she thought, content even. She would be proven very wrong in an obnoxiously short amount of time.
It was an ordinary Thursday evening in the Danvers house when it happened. Alex and her parents were all seated around the kitchen table, enjoying a wonderful pot roast when they heard the sound. The distinct whistle of a missile after launch, shortly followed by a thud so powerful it made the ground quake.
The family watched their water glasses until the water ripples calmed before frantically looking at each other, and then out the back sliding door. Within seconds they were each rushing out of their chairs and toward the backyard.
Alex's father Jeremiah blocked both his wife and daughter from passing through the door.
"I should check to make sure everything is alright, stay put." Jeremiah tried his best to make it sound like it wasn't a choice. But to no avail, the Danvers women are too stubborn for such a request. He sighed heavily as they deliberately pushed their way through.
Alex heard her mother's shock first, before clasping her hands over her mouth in wonder. Jeremiah squinted at the scene before bolting into action.
The wreckage lay before a family not too unfamiliar with such circumstances. Instantly the Danvers recognized the wreckage as being a pod, one similar to the one a very familiar face arrived in many moons ago.
Superman.
Jeremiah slowly approached the pod and just before reaching to grab one the lever Alex halted him.
"Dad don't open it!" She screeched.
Both her mother and father whipped their heads around, giving Alex a matching pair of puzzled looks.
Alex cringed. She wasn't sure what she wanted to say in that moment but THAT certainly wasn't it. Now she was going to have to explain herself, how embarrassing. Her cheeks tint a bright shade of red and she licked her lips.
"Shouldn't we uh-" Alex bit the inside of her cheek thinking of something to say. "Shouldn't we call someone to help us here, I mean, how can we be sure that it's not dangerous."
Jeremiah blinked a few times before turning back to the pod.
"Alex run inside and get me a bottle of water." He requested.
Alex rolled her eyes but did as she was told. When she returned with the water bottle in hand, she passed it off to her father with caution. She watched as her father gently poured the water over the glass windshield. After he finished he rolled down the right sleeve of his flannel shirt and wiped the wet dirt off of the glass in a circular motion. He peered through the window and his facial expression told the whole story. Alex was doomed.
Whatever was on the other side of that glass had her father feeling confusion and compassion all at once. Whatever was on the other side of that glass, she knew her father already felt a duty to protect. If his facial expressions weren't indicator enough, the way he sprung into action after that moment was.
"It's a child!" He yelled to his wife as he once again went for the lever. "It's a young girl."
Seconds later her mother was darting toward the scene unfolding and gripped her hand around the same lever Jeremiah was clenching to help him pull. They counted down from 3 together and pulled at the same time.
Everything began to blur for Alex with the last words her father spoke but within moments it was all very clear. She squeezed her eyes shut and when she opened them again; her father had the young girl cradled in his arms.
Over the next three years Alex would learn all about the big sister experience. Not because she was four years older than Kara and would need to teach her the way of life, no, but mostly because she quickly found out that Kara had powers that would render her "older sister" experience worthless. Kara might have only been twelve but she was wise beyond her years and strong. Alex found herself being taught more and being helped more by Kara, when that was the role she was supposed to play for her younger "sister". She found herself slowly becoming a little dependent on Kara and for that she felt resentful, not only toward Kara but toward her parents. She was never supposed to have the bigger sister role, but being older, this was her rightful role to play. And it was slowly being taken from her by someone stronger than her, faster than her, and more intelligent.
Alex could tell immediately that she would never be able to live up to the type of standard Kara was able to set. Her parents were more than thrilled to have adopted such an over achiever. Now suddenly Alex was sitting in the backseat and anything that she'd accomplished up until this point was moot.
Alex grunted as she heard the door thud. She pulled her blanket over her face and held her pillow on either side of her face to cover her ears.
"I can see you Alex!"
"Nobody's home! Try back later!" Alex groaned.
"Well then how do you explain this sad looking girl under these covers?" Kara chirped, plucking the blankets from Alex's body with ease. Alex snapped up.
"How did you?" She gritted her teeth in frustration when she felt a breeze hit her bare legs. "Kara! For the last time," Alex shut her eyes and took in a calming breath. "The window is not an entrance!"
"Psh, yeah" Kara snorted. "For commoners like yourself." Kara flopped down next to her sister on the small full size mattress. The open floor plan allowed Kara to take in the scene before her and to be frank, it was a mess.
"What are you doing here, don't you have school?" Alex rubbed her temples to ebb the pain of an oncoming headache.
"Don't you?" Kara quipped before smirking wickedly.
Alex winced.
"Mom and dad know." Kara sighed, placing her hands over her stomach. "They're really upset right now Alex, you should call them."
"What?!" Alex jolted up. "How do they know? Who told them?"
"That you quit school?" Kara sat up with Alex. "Are you kidding me? How long did you think you could hide it? The parents work closely with the University, you had to know it wouldn't take long."
"Shit." Alex hissed. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
Kara placed her hand on Alex's back in a calming manner.
"I could go with you if you want." Kara stood up. "Come on I'll take you there right now, hop on."
"What?" Alex rubbed her forehead in frustration. "No Kara, you are not going to carry me back to mommy and daddies house. I have transportation."
"I know but my way is so much faster!" Kara beamed.
"Uh huh, and why would I want to speed this process up?" Alex brushed passed her sister to grab the leather jacket tossed carelessly on the floor.
"Okay fine," Kara shrugged, not wanting to push the matter further. "Do you want me there?"
"No." Alex said simply, slipping on her jacket and moving swiftly out the front door, closing it with a little something extra.
Eliza heard the snarl of Alex's Ducati from the kitchen. She put the fruit bowl she was holding down on the counter with some force.
"Must she ride that horrid thing?" Eliza's tone was strained.
"As long as it continues to get under your skin, I'm guessing the answer is yes." Jeremiah chuckled from his arm chair in the living room, continuing to read his paper.
Eliza glared at her husband. The intense stare at the back of his head was quickly broken by the sound of the front door swinging opening.
Each parent snapped their heads toward the hall leading to the front foyer, waiting for Alex's inevitable entrance. Seconds later she was leaning on the wall of the archway, with her eyes downcast.
Eliza stared at her daughter impatiently, with her hands on her hips.
After a few moments of idled silence Jeremiah spoke up.
"Come in here young lady, have a seat." His tone was firm.
Alex never made eye contact with either parent; she bit the inside of her cheek and sulked to the empty couch opposite her father. With her mother close behind, Alex noted her mother's choice not to take the empty seat beside her, rather choosing to sit on the arm of her father's chair.
"Do you have something you want to say to us?"
It was clear to Alex that Jeremiah had no intentions on dragging this out. She'd have to puff out her chest and spit it out just to get this over with.
Alex took in a sharp breath.
"I dropped out of school."
Her parent's each looked like this was news to them. They looked flabbergasted, as if they didn't know she'd quit school the moment she'd decided to. This was comical to Alex. So dramatic, she thought. Eliza placed her hand over her chest and Alex had to bite her lip to keep a sarcastic cackle from slipping out.
The lack of conversation became awkward. There was clearly a heavy tension in the room and her parents taking on the role of statues was not helping anything or anyone.
"So uh, I'm just gonna head out now." Alex silently lifted herself from the chair and tried to silently slip out of the room.
"Hold it." Jeremiah firmly halted his retreating daughter.
Alex winced and stopped in place.
"Where do you think you're going?" Eliza asked her daughter.
"Uh- back to my apartment?" Alex scrunched up her nose, seriously hoping that last comment did not just come off sarcastic. She strategically kept her back to her parents.
"And how exactly do you intend to pay rent for your apartment?" Eliza's question caused Alex to physically deflate.
Alex turned slowly on her heel back to her parents.
"You're forcing me to pay rent?" Alex arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Oh please Alex, you're an adult we're not forcing you to do anything." Eliza shrugged her shoulders coolly.
"Okay now you've lost me." Alex tossed her hands up in defeat.
Eliza and Jeremiah looked at each other and nodded before turning back to Alex.
"We're giving you options, which is much more then you gave us in your decision to drop out of college." Eliza removed her glasses from her face and bit the end of the frame.
Alex rolled her eyes.
"And what are these options?" She asked impatiently.
It was her father's turn to speak up now.
"You can stay in your apartment and start paying rent, or you can move back home where we can work as a family to build a plan that ends in your re-enrollment to the university for next fall."
"But Dad-!"
"That's it Alex!" Jeremiah raised his voice catching both women off guard. "There is no third option. It's Friday, you have until Monday morning to give me your decision, or I will make one for you." Jeremiah lifted himself from his chair and disappeared behind the near basement door.
"Well." Eliza said simply. She stood to smooth out her skirt and blouse. "I suppose we'll be hearing from you Monday?"
Alex glared at her mother.
"Right." Alex didn't try to hold back her sarcastic tone now. She brushed passed her mother and stormed out the front door.
The next sound Eliza would hear is the growl of Alex's Ducati.
Alex revved the engine of her powerful bike to purposefully irk her mother and push every button she possibly could. Just before she pulled back on the throttle she felt a tap on her shoulder. Alex flipped up the shield of her helmet looking for the poor guy who was about to receive the thrashing of a life time for interrupting her dramatic exit. Turning her head slightly back she was met with a pair of dark eyes squinting through the sun.
"Uh-" Alex drew out. "Can I help you?
"Yeah actually." A female voice said firmly. "Do ya mind? I'm working over here and all that racket is distracting. Not to mention the smoke kicking up from your weak attempt at a burnout." The woman blew out a puff of air, attempting to remove the strand of hair from her face. "It's not good for the drying process."
Alex clenched her teeth before ripping her helmet off in frustration.
"Look, whatever has you this pissed off, keep it to yourself okay?" The owner of the brown eyes turned their back on Alex and made their way to a half painted fence belonging to her neighbor. "Some of us have work to do." The woman tossed over her shoulder.
Alex watched her walk away with parted lips and a quirked eyebrow.
A woman with dark features kneeled down in front of the fence to resume her work in a pair of white overalls and a grey t-shirt cut off at the shoulders. Her hair was pulled back but Alex could sense the woman's frustration with a loose bang that continued to fall in her face. This made Alex smirk.
A few minutes passed without Alex noticing how creepy her staring was until-
"What? Do I got paint on my face on my face or somethin'?"
Alex snapped into reality and made eye contact with girl kneeling a few feet away from her.
"Oh uhm- no." Alex wheezed out an awkward chuckle. "Anyway-"
Alex quickly realized she had nothing else to say. Flustered, she yanked her helmet back over her head in hopes of covering up any embarrassment that might show on her face.
Before flipping the shield shut on her helmet she caught the amused look on the young woman's face. Without another word she swung her leg over her Ducati, letting it idle out of her parent's driveway. She pulled back slightly on the throttle, careful not to kick up any smoke from her tires. She made her way at an obnoxiously slow speed to the stop sign at the end of the street before completely ripping the throttle and darting at a dangerous speed toward the main road. Looking back at the doe eyed woman in paint overalls, she saw wide eyes phase to a glare. Once again, this made Alex smirk.
Alex arrived back to her complex in no time. See, who needs flying powers? Alex smirked at the thought. Her bike was all she'd ever need. She approached the door to her apartment, jamming the keys in the lock. She heard a bump on the other side of the door followed by a hurried shuffle. Alex rolled her eyes and pushed her way through the door.
"Kara!" Alex groaned. "Why are you still here?" Alex felt around for the light switch. "I've told you time and time again that you're not supposed to be here-"She managed to flip the light switch and was met with the sight of her apartment turned completely upside down. "When I'm not home." The remaining words tumbled out.
"Uh Kara?" She rasped nervously.
Alex looked to the left to see the sofa cushions flipped up, the drawers to her entertainment center rummaged through and a lamp knocked over. Panic washed over and had Alex darting through her apartment to find what was missing.
Laptop gone.
Emergency sock drawer cash gone.
Jewelry gone.
Jokes on them she thought, it was fake anyway.
Just when she thought she'd got one over on the intruder(s) she felt a chill down her spine.
"No!" She whimpered. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the desk that used to hold her most prized possession completely bare.
"My Xbox!" She cried out. "Bastards!"
Alex turned back to look at the door feeling stumped. Her face scrunched up in thought.
"How did they get in?" She whispered to herself. She inspected the door to see there was no sign of breaking and entering. A familiar breeze hit her on the back of her neck and she snapped her head toward the direction it came from.
"Kara…" She seethed.
Without hesitation she whipped out her phone texting the guilty party.
To K. Danvers: Get here… NOW!
60 seconds couldn't have passed before Kara came floating through the window with a gust of wind.
"What's wrong?" Kara asked frantically.
Alex looked at her sister disbelievingly.
"What's wrong?" Alex snorted. "Notice anything?"
Kara scanned the room and shrugged.
"My apartment!" Alex's temper flared. "It's a hot damn mess!"
"Oh well, honestly no more than usual." Kara reasoned simply.
Alex's temper turned to rage.
"I've been robbed Kara! Can you not blatantly see that?" Alex pointed to the living area. "The whole damn place has been ransacked."
Kara's eyes widened.
"Holy-!" Kara gave the room another look. "Oh my God, Alex are you okay?" She rushed over to her sister with concern. "Were you here? Did they hurt you?"
"No… I wasn't here." Alex sighed. "But they took everything, they took my Xbox!" Alex put emphasis on that last part.
"We need to call the police." Kara reached for her phone.
"What the hell are they gonna do huh?" Alex pointed her thumb back at the front door. "I don't have rental insurance and there are no signs of forced entry."
Kara zoned in on the door frame. Nothing was tampered with; there were no cracks between the door frame and the door itself.
"Wha-?" Kara contemplated the scenario. "How did they get in?"
Alex pointed to the window.
Realization washed over Kara and the color flushed from her face.
"Oh my-" Kara ran over to the window and slammed it shut. Perhaps with a little too much force as a crack shot up the window pain.
Kara winced at the noise of even more destruction that she'd caused.
"Alex, you can never know how sorry I am over this." Kara turned delicately to face her sister. "I'd totally forgotten to close that behind me this morning. I'm so so sorry. They must have came through the fire escape."
The face Kara was making right now could break anyone. Alex shut her eyes and took a steady breath.
"Maybe this is a sign." Alex sighed.
Kara began to busy herself with tidying up the apartment.
"What do you mean?" She asked casually.
"Mom and dad told me I either need to start paying rent or I needed to move back home. Perhaps this is a sign from God himself telling me I'm not ready to be independent." Alex pinched the bridge of her nose and stumbled over to her bed before collapsing.
Kara's concern for her sister caused her to stop pretending to be dainty and normal. She put herself in hyper drive and had the whole place spotless and in order. Within seconds she was by Alex's side.
"Would moving home be so terrible?" Kara laid her head on her sisters shoulder.
Alex bit her lip to keep frustrated tears from shedding.
"Alex" Kara sighed. "What's going on with you? Why'd you drop out of school?"
The breath caught in Alex's throat and the room fell silent. Minutes passed before Alex spoke.
"You know," Alex let out a sad chuckle. "They didn't even ask me that."
"Who?" Kara mumbled.
"Mom and dad." Alex said simply. "They didn't ask what my reasoning was behind leaving collage."
"Well I'm asking you." Kara reassuringly squeezed Alex's arm. "You can tell me anything Al."
Alex sat up and pushed herself against the headboard.
"I just-" Alex searched for her words. "I felt lost. I feel lost now. It's absolutely terrifying." Alex pulled her legs against her chest and buried her face in her knees. "And now I'm just going to be a lost adult-child living in her parent's house. This is just-" Alex exhaled. "This is just not how I envisioned my journey ya know? How humiliating."
"No forget that!" Kara pushed herself off the bed causing Alex to look up. Her puzzled expression asked the questions Alex couldn't.
"You can't just roll over and accept this" Kara started pacing. "I won't let you."
"Weren't you just asking me how moving home could be that bad?" Alex sighed.
"Because I wasn't seeing it clearly, this will not be your journey Alex. I won't let it be." Kara's look of confidence stunned Alex.
"Well there is a slight issue with that little sister." Alex ran her hand through her hair. "How am I going to pay rent? I'll have to get a job, someone who will hire me without a degree."
"Well I'm sure the job won't be glamorous at first but isn't it worth it?" Kara looked at her sister with eyes full of hope. "Your journey has to start somewhere and that somewhere is not eating pot roast on Thursday's with mom and dad."
Alex looked up to her sister with a beaming grin.
"I have an idea." Alex said simply. "But it will have to wait until tomorrow, can you stay over tonight?"
Kara shook excitedly.
"Of course I can!" She clapped.
"Text mom and dad, let them know."
Okay so this story will follow Alex and her relationships with both Kara and Maggie but for my Sanvers shippers this is most definitely a Sanvers fic with a heavy side of angst.
I have been completely reignited with inspiration to write you guys! I ship these two babes so hard.
More Maggie and Alex interaction to come in the next chapter if you wanna see this story continue.
Leave a review, let me know whatcha think :)
